Dozens of Students Observe Passover Seder

Approximately 25-30 members of the Columbus School of Law community gathered for a Passover Seder on March 19, celebrating tradition, history, and togetherness with prayer, readings, and a time-honored menu.

The Seder was organized by Emma Noftz (2L) and Jon Tabacoff (2L), co-presidents of the Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA), along with Professor Clifford Fishman. Performed in much the same way by Jews all over the world, the ancient ritual feast marking the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover was held in the Law School Café.

The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The story is in the Book of Exodus (Shemot) in the Hebrew Bible.

Unable to celebrate with their own families at home, the students improvised their own law school family, reading aloud the four questions, singing "Dayenu," and praying over candles and wine. The group traded notes about how individual family Seders were conducted and compared the differences between various family traditions and Haggadah’s.

“The Seder definitely helps foster solidarity among members of the JLSA. It is an event where we can all come together, bonding over our common culture and heritage,” said Tabacoff.

“However, I think the impact we have on the CUA law community is even more important. Teaching the other students and professors who may not be accustomed to Jewish holidays is an exciting thing. A lot of fellow students came and truly showed solidarity in that respect.”